Written Answers Nos. 646-666
646. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in receipt of the housing assistance payment in each of the years 2014 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and the total spend on the housing assistance payment in the corresponding timeframe, in tabular form. [36821/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social housing delivery activity in all local authority areas on the statistics page of its website. The data requested in relation HAP tenancies for the period 2014-2022, broken down by local authority area, can be found on my Department’s website at this link: assets.gov.ie/259625/05ed5a3f-0e80-4358-8e4d-a7e1e3a05194.xlsx
Data in relation to 2023 is not yet available.
647. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant homes officers in each local authority. [36822/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to Question No. 334 of 11 July which sets out the position in this matter.
648. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of directly employed maintenance and refurbishment staff in each local authority; and if his Department has a policy in respect of employment and contracting of same. [36824/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the specific role and function of each individual staff member is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
650. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend planning legislation to facilitate the installation of covered bicycle storage in the front gardens of private dwellings. [36829/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. The exemptions provided for in the Planning and Development Regulations are kept under regular review.
The idea of providing a planning exemption for small outdoor bike storage facilities is currently being explored by my Department. If it is considered appropriate, draft legislation will be brought forward. In this regard, it should be noted that under section 262(4) of the Act, legislative proposals in relation to exempted development require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas before they can be signed into law.
651. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 756 of 13 June 2023, where the information is held on the total establishment costs for the establishment of registration and inspection section systems; if his Department is aware of the total cost of establishing a registration and inspection section system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36855/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in my reply to the question referred to, there were a number of organisations involved in the establishment of the registration and inspection system for domestic waste water treatment systems. These included my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the local authorities concerned.
The EPA is required, under Section 70K of the Water Services Act 2007 (as amended), to prepare a national plan for the inspection and monitoring of domestic waste water treatment systems which the water authorities are authorised to implement.
Under Section 70B of the Water Services Act 2007, as amended, each water services authority is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a register within its functional area.
My Department does not have the total establishment costs across these organisations.
653. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes bought under the cost rental tenant in situ scheme, broken down by local authority, in 2022 and in the first six months of 2023; how much was spent on each home; the size of these homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36955/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra654. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the process for those eligible for the cost rental tenant in situ scheme to avail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36956/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 654 together.
The Government has developed the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model.
The current household income limit for scheme eligibility is €53,000 net. This limit is currently under review having regard to recently announced changes to cost rental eligibility limits from 1 August 2023.
Local Authority Housing Officers have responsibility for assessing the risk of homelessness to tenants who have received a valid notification of termination due to an intended sale of a property, and so it is the local authority that tenants should first approach.
If the local authority is satisfied that the applicant tenant household is eligible for CRTiS they will pass the details of the tenant and the property to the Housing Agency for consideration for potential acquisition. The Housing Agency will then engage with the tenant and the landlord with a view to acquiring the property. The Housing Agency will partner with an independent third party, potentially an Affordable Housing Body (AHB), to manage and maintain the homes.
It is the longer-term intention of the scheme, however, to transition these tenancies and homes to the standard framework for Cost Rental, where rents are set at a level to meet the costs of acquiring, managing, and maintaining the home. It is for this reason that the CRTiS eligibility criteria align with those in the standard Cost Rental framework.
The scheme is administered by the Housing Agency and, as of the end of Q2 2023, 68 cases had been referred to the Housing Agency by 21 local authorities. It is intended that data in relation to the Scheme will be published on a quarterly basis.
655. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority homes that have been retrofitted; the BER rating to which they have been brought up; the average cost per home; how many more local authority homes are due to be retrofitted; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36957/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Programme for Government commitment, my Department launched a newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) in 2021 to retrofit 36,500 local authority homes by 2030. This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for attic and wall insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.
An annualised breakdown of the funding provided and the number of properties upgraded under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme for the years 2013-2022 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
My Department announced that funding of €87 million will be provided for the upgrade of approximately 2,400 social homes in 2023. Each local authority received an individual allocation along with a minimum target of homes they are required to retrofit.
Under the 2023 EERP programme, my Department funds costs of up to €48,850, plus project management fees, on individual local authority homes. The actual cost of retrofitting works on each home will depend on its pre-works BER. Targets set and funding allocated to local authorities under the new programme calls for local authorities to undertake a variety of house types, from those requiring minimal investment to those requiring major investment, in order to achieve the B2/Cost Optimal BER. Local authorities are asked to ensure that the average cost per home drawn down under the programme is circa €36,500, including project management fees. Adhering to this average will ensure that the maximum number of homes can be retrofitted with the available budget.
Work in relation to the 2023 programme is underway but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2023 EERP will be available early in 2024.
656. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full-year cost of bringing HAP rates in line with average rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36958/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. At the end of Q1 2023, over 110,800 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were nearly 58,773 households actively in receipt of HAP support.
The 2023 budget allocation of €543 million will enable continued support for existing tenancies along with funding for 8,800 new households to be accommodated in HAP supported tenancies. My Department does not hold data in a format that would allow for an estimate of the cost requested.
Projections for 2024 will be agreed as part of the normal Estimates process.
Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to local authorities under HAP is required. The Housing Agency undertook to carry out this analytical exercise on behalf of my Department to better understand what level of discretion should be made available to local authorities under HAP to maintain adequate levels of support.
Since 11 July 2022 the HAP discretion rate was increased from 20% to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
A separate review of the discretion available to Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin, which is up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits, is currently being undertaken by my Department, in conjunction with The Housing Agency.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP scheme and central to that is significantly scaling up our social housing supply. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of new homes to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. As new build supply of social and affordable housing ramps up, there will be reducing reliance on the HAP scheme.
657. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the different funding streams for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36964/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions including local authority housing, voluntary housing, homeless services, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, housing grants, rural water schemes, urban renewal/regeneration, fire services, and natural and built heritage, each of which includes a number of funding schemes.
My Department engages regularly and constructively with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on their financial situations. Information on these individual programmes and schemes is available to local authorities through this regular direct engagement, as well as indirectly via the website, publications and announcements.
Information on funding provided by my Department to local authorities for the relevant years is contained in the Report on the Accounts of the Public Services: Central Funding of Local Authorities published by the Comptroller and Auditor General, which is available at the following link:
www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/report%20on%20the%20accounts%20of%20the%20public%20services/
The Budget 2023 Expenditure Report, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform details my Department's Abridged Estimates (Part III), and gives information on the estimated current and capital allocations for 2023 in respect of each relevant programme/scheme, on the basis of the financial provision made for my Department following decisions made in the context of Budget 2023. The Expenditure Report can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/eb6ec-budget-2023-expenditure-reports/
The Report does not include additional funding for housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts and amounting to some €168 million in 2023.
658. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the local government fund, including details of the full-year cost of the fund to the Exchequer in each of the years 2007 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36965/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government Fund was established in 1999 and is used to fund local authorities, primarily through Local Property Tax (LPT) allocations, which accounts for approximately 7% of LA discretionary income. While a large portion of the Local Government Fund (LGF) is made up of LPT yield, an annual contribution is made from the Exchequer towards LPT equalisation, increased Pay and Pensions costs associated with national pay agreements, miscellaneous schemes and any other exceptional allocations that may be required. From 2020 to Q1 2022, the Local Government Fund also supported local authorities and local businesses with the Covid rates waiver/credit in lieu scheme, and lost income and extra costs due to the pandemic.
The accounts of the Local Government Fund, including income and expenditure, are audited by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General each year. The audited accounts for 2007 to 2021 are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/128be-local-government-fund-accounts/.
Please note the 2022 account is currently being finalised and will be available at the above link later this year.
659. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide, in tabular form, in each year since 2020, the total amount of funding in each local authority for capital investment in water services infrastructure; the capital projects that have been completed in each local authority area since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37042/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding directly to Local Authorities for capital investment in water services infrastructure through the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme and Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme.
Details of funding I have approved under these programmes are available at the following links:
www.gov.ie/en/circular/cf807-circular-l219-approval-of-schemesprojects-under-the-multi-annual-rural-water-programme-2019-2021-and-grant-allocations-to-local-authorities-for-2019/.
www.gov.ie/en/circular/7ec47-circular-ldpi01-2020-approval-of-projects-residential-estates-under-the-developer-provided-water-services-infrastructure-under-the-multi-annual-developer-provided-water-services-infrastructure-resolution-programme-2019-2021/.
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/bb844-minister-obrien-announces-multi-annual-funding-to-connect-developer-provided-water-services-to-public-uisce-eireann-network/.
My Department also provides funding to Uisce Éireann for domestic customers for capital investment in water services infrastructure. However, my Department does not hold the information requested as Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures.
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578 .
661. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacancies in the Residential Tenancies Board; and the roles which are vacant. [37079/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraChapter 2 of part 8 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 – 2022 provides for the composition of the Residential Tenancies Board (the Board). Section 153 provides that the members of the Board shall be such number, not less than 9 and not more than 12, as the Minister considers appropriate from time to time. The Board currently consists of 11 members, 2 of which have recently been re-appointed.
Further details on the current Board membership can be found on membership.stateboards.ie/en/board/Residential%20Tenancies%20Board/.
662. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); his views on same, specifically in relation to housing costs for renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37081/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department welcomes the ESRI's publication of the 'Housing Affordability: Ireland in a Cross-Country Context' research paper, which provides important context on affordability in the Irish housing market relative to our European peers.
This research identifies that, at an overall level, when households that do not face any housing costs (e.g. outright homeowners) are excluded, Ireland has the 6th lowest housing cost to income ratio of the 15 peer countries.
Another important finding is that, when the available housing supports to renting households are considered, Ireland had the most favourable average rent-to-income levels among the 15 countries analysed (an average of 20.7% for Ireland relative to an average of 25.1% in the 15 peer countries), with middle and lower-income households (i.e. up to 60% of households by income distribution) facing substantially lower proportionate rental costs than similar cohorts in the peer countries. More specifically, households in the lowest income quintile in Ireland face an average Rent To Income ratio (RTI) 10 percentage points lower than their European peers, while RTIs for those in the second and third income quintiles have RTI's that are 1 percentage point lower.
The ESRI further identify that, in the absence of the available housing supports (i.e. the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), Rental Assistance Support (RAS) and Rent Supplement (RS)), supported households would pay an average of 43% of household income on rent, significantly higher than the 15% average RTI level when such supports are reflected.
Within this context, this report by the ESRI identifies several affordability challenges for upper-income and urban-based renters, who on average pay higher proportions of income on rent than the European peers.
The Housing for All strategy sets a target to deliver 54,000 Affordable and Cost Rental Homes in the period to 2030. This will see an average of 6,000 affordable homes per annum – consisting of 4,000 Affordable Purchase and 2,000 Cost Rental homes. We are 21 months into this strategy and have seen welcome increases in housing completions and commencements, as well as the first delivery of cost rental homes.
The Government acknowledges that there are problems in the rental market, with too many households facing immense challenges in accessing affordable and secure housing. I recently announced the intention to raise income eligibility thresholds for cost rental housing to a maximum of €66,000 net in Dublin and €59,000 in the rest of the country. The increases, which will come into effect from the 1 August 2023, recognise the severe affordability challenges in the private rental sector. Together with other supply initiatives, such as the new STAR scheme and the Review of the Private Rental Sector, Government is committed to improving affordability for private renters.
663. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the application of a person (details supplied) as the applicant found it necessary to arrange for the works to be carried out in advance of the grant being paid as it was an emergency but the local authority refused to pay out the grant; if he will review the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37126/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of individual local authorities.
The framework for the operation of the scheme is laid down in statutory regulations, namely the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability) Regulations 2007, the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with Disability) (Fixed Track Hoists) Regulations 2023. A grant may be paid under these regulations where, in the opinion of the local authority, it considers the works reasonably necessary to facilitate the needs of the applicant.
In order for the relevant local authority to determine whether the works are reasonably necessary, a completed application must be submitted by an applicant prior to the commencement of any works, to allow the relevant local authority to inspect the property and confirm that the works are eligible for grant funding. In exceptional cases my Department recognises that there may be an urgency to commence works prior to formal grant approval issuing. In such circumstances, where a local authority has been afforded the opportunity to inspect the property prior to any works commencing, grant approval may, at the discretion of the local authority, issue retrospectively where they are satisfied that the works were necessary and that they needed to be carried out as a matter of urgency.
Individual applications are solely a matter for the local authority in question.
665. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what specific plans there are for MMC (modern methods of construction) sites in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37153/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra666. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the delivery of social and affordable houses in Louth, to include the numbers of commencements and completions to 1 July 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37154/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 665 and 666 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Louth. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2022. The Q1 2023 CSR is being collated and will published in conjunction with the Q1 2023 social housing statistics. A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis of completions, locations, approvals stage etc at the link below: Social Housing Construction Status Report Q4 2022 - Dataset - Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Data for affordable housing delivery is being published from 1 January 2022 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery. Data for social and affordable housing delivery for Q1 2023 is currently being collated and will be published shortly.
Under Housing for All, each local authority has prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan for the period 2022-2026. These Plans set out details of social and affordable housing delivery for the period 2022-2026, in line with targets issued by my Department.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address increased housing delivery and methods to support increased use of MMC are set out in Pathway 5 of Housing for All. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction. The Housing for All Action Plan Update and Quarter 3 2022 Progress Report, which was published on 2 November, included a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing. This Roadmap was published on 11 July 2023 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/414cd-roadmap-for-increased-adoption-of-mmc-in-public-housing-delivery/
Last December funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a housing proposal, a commitment to use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and for construction to start in 2023 or no later than 2024. A total of 26 sites received funding as part of an accelerated delivery programme, and with some additional sites since added, my Department is overseeing a project to progress delivery of MMC projects on 35 sites which will deliver approximately 1,800 new social homes. Louth County Council have four sites included in the accelerated delivery program which will deliver approximately 230 new social homes.
